If the horseshoe fits – wear it
The Smear Machine: How Conspiracy Theorists Turned Charlie Kirk’s Murder Into Another Attack on Israel
Conspiracy theories aren’t about facts. They’re about blame. And when extremists go looking for a villain, they usually land on the same one: Israel.
Since Charlie Kirk’s shocking murder, fringe voices like Jackson Hinkle, Candace Owens, and Ian Carroll have been busy spreading the lie that Israel had a hand in it.
Their story? Kirk supposedly wanted to get more critical over Israel, and that made his donor base who are Jews angry. Israel, fearing he might not be loyal enough, supposedly decided to take him out. How exactly that helps Israel, no one can explain. But logic isn’t the point. The smear is.
Another “proof”? Ben Shapiro co-hosted Kirk’s show after his assassination. Ben’s an Orthodox Jew. Case closed. Never mind that his co-hosts were Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles – both Catholics. In the conspiracy playbook, if something bad happens, blame the Jews.
Another line of criticism claims that Netanyahu somehow exploited Charlie Kirk’s tragic death to push Israel’s policies. But that accusation doesn’t hold up for a second. The phrase “the late and I” is not some sinister Netanyahu invention, it’s a common way to speak about someone you knew, respected, or were influenced by. Obsessing over phrasing while ignoring the message is a distraction.
What Netanyahu actually said was clear and human: we lost an amazing man. Charlie’s courageous belief in free speech will leave a lasting mark. Rest in peace. That is not political opportunism it is a eulogy. Twisting those words into evidence of exploitation says far more about the critics than about Netanyahu.
Israelis Grieved but Not Because of Politics
The Israeli Knesset draped its building in American flags as a sign of mourning. Various podcast hosts opened days of public discussions in the streets in memory of Charlie. The Municipality of Netanya announced that a new square in the Ir-Yamim neighborhood will be named after Charlie Kirk. It is a gesture not of politics, but of principle: honoring a man who embodied the courage to speak freely, even when it was unpopular. These are just a few examples.
In fact, outside of a tiny radical-left fringe, the same one Owens loves to quote when it bashes Israel, most Israelis were horrified. Not solely because Kirk was pro-Israel. But because he was pro-dialogue. He believed in debate. In persuasion. In hearing people out instead of shutting them down. His death hit hard for that reason more than anything else.
Obviously, all of the Israeli right followed him, drawn to his clear stance on Conservative topics, and yes also for his support for the State. At the same time, many centrists admired his ability to engage respectfully across ideological lines. This matters especially now, as Israel, like America, is suffering from deep divisions that threaten both civic life and the public discourse.
Words Lead Somewhere
The investigation into Charlie’s murder is still unfolding. But here’s what’s obvious: demonization has consequences.
The left spent years calling him every name in the book: misogynist, fascist, Nazi, racist. None of it stuck to reality. But when you tell people a man is the embodiment of evil, you shouldn’t be shocked when someone decides violence against him is not only justified but morally necessary. And worse, when it happens, too many nod along.
Israel faces the exact same treatment. The far left and far right tag-team to paint Israel as uniquely evil. And Jews everywhere get caught in the crossfire. Harassed, threatened, even attacked. Their only supposed escape route? Publicly denounce Israel and hope they’ll be the last ones targeted.
The Big Lies About Israel
For decades, Israel has faced accusations unmoored from reality. It is called an “apartheid state”—though it’s the only country in the region where Arabs line up to immigrate. It is accused of “genocide”—though its minority populations are growing, not shrinking. It is branded a “colonial project”—though Jews are the land’s indigenous people, not agents of European empire. And now, the ugliest accusation of all: that Israel is the “new Nazi regime.” The grotesque irony is that Nazism’s mission was to eradicate every Jew, everywhere.
Free Speech Isn’t a Free Pass
Like Kirk, I believe in free speech. That includes speech that is false, ugly, or absurd. But let’s be honest with ourselves: when activists, pundits, or influencers set out to demonize entire groups without evidence or nuance, they are not just “asking questions” or “challenging narratives.” They are fanning flames. And flames burn.
The Unholy Alliance
The far left and far right hate each other. But they agree on one thing: they hate Jews and Israel.
The far left sees Israel as stand-ins for colonialism. The far-right blames Israel for pulling the strings of America. And somehow, both find themselves cheering on jihadists who hate America even more than they hate Israel.
That’s the dark irony here. After Charlie Kirk’s death, the smear machine went to work. And Israel once again was cast as the villain.
This isn’t about truth. It never is. It’s about keeping the world’s oldest scapegoat alive.
